La Cañada History: St. Francis High School Stages Production of William Shakespeare's Richard III

What happened 10-20-30 years ago?

The theater arts department at St. Francis High School staged a production of a 20th century version of William Shakespeare’s “Richard III” in its Degheri Performing Arts Center. Director Manny Eulalia said he was inspired to set the play in 1939, when Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party was on the rise, as the period reflected the same patterns of war and destruction as found during the times depicted in Shakespeare’s play.

Twenty Years Ago

Conrad’s Restaurant in Plaza de La Cañada received permission from the city to increase its facility by 618 square feet for construction of an outdoor patio dining area along Foothill Boulevard. Los Gringos Locos is now located at that site.

Thirty Years Ago

Four employees of the La Cañada Jack in the Box were surprised by two masked gunmen before opening hours on a Sunday in December 1983. The suspects got away with $531 in cash after ordering their victims into the fast-food restaurant’s walk-in refrigerator.

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Forty Years Ago

An ongoing national energy crisis led to shutting down more than just gas stations in the foothills during certain times. Marguerita Vasconcellos, owner of the Donut House in the 1400 block of Foothill Boulevard, announced that to conserve energy the shop would be closed on Sundays.

Fifty Years Ago

La Cañada High School, which had just opened its doors two months earlier, won its first competitive interschool trophy when director Douglas Coe’s 56-member Spartan band marched off with first place in its division in the annual City of Hawthorne Band Review. David Sherer was drum major.

Sixty Years Ago

The newly organized La Cañada dance club, the Stardusters, held its first dinner dance on Friday, Dec. 4, 1953 at the Pasadena Athletic Club. Membership in the club was limited to 45 couples.